Log-hauler



(No Model.).

2 Sheets-Sheet 1. T. J. ST. LOUIS.

LOG HAULERQ No. 600,749. Patented'Mar. 15, I898,

INVENTOH ATTORNEYS.

WITNESSES 2 Sheets-Sheet*2.

INVENTOH ATTORMHS Hmc'roN, n. cy

LOG HAULER.

T. J. ST. LOUIS.

(No Model.)

WITNESSES PATENT rricn.

THOMAS J. ST. LOUIS, OF WEST SUPERIOR, WISCONSIN.

LOG HAULER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters latent No. 600,749, dated March 15, 1898 Application fi1ed$eptem'ber 18, 1897. fierial No. 652,139. (No model.)

T0 on whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS J. ST. LOUIS, of West Superior, in the county of Douglas and State of Wisconsin, have invented a new and Improved Log-Hauler, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to an improvement in log-hauling devices intended for use in connection with sleds; and it consists of certain novel features, which will be hereinafter described and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the log-hauling device. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view, and Fig. 4 is a plan showing the chain and the stakes by which it is kept in place upon curves.

In the northern lumbering districts logs are principally removed from the woods to the rivers or railroads by means of sleds in the winter-time and when there is snow on the ground. This has heretofore been done by using horses as a motive power. The object of my device is to substitute steam-power for the horses.

In order to provide means by which the loghauling device may exert its power without tearing up the roadway or without using rails, I use the stationary chain O,which is stretched from one end of the roadway to the other and is fastened at each end. This chain is engaged by a chain hauling or winding mechanism mounted upon a suitable frame A, which frame is supported upon runners at by means of cross-beams or bolsters A and central pins or king-bolts a. This permits the sled or bob under each end of the frame to pivot, as may be necessary, in going about curves and also to rock whenpassing over small rises or obstructions.

Upon the framework A is mounted a boiler G and a motor which consists, as shown in the drawings, of double engines B,connected with a common shaft 13. Upon the shaft B are mounted gears Z) and 12 which are of different sizes and are adapted to engage, respectively, with the gears b and I)", mounted upon the shaft of the chain-winding mechanism. As will be noticed in Fig. 1, one set only of these gears is in operation at a time. The gears 11 and b are movable lengthwise upon their shaft, so that either may be shifted from engagement with its gear and the other be placed in engagement with its gear, thus pro viding for a change in speed.

The chain-winding mechanism shown in.

the drawings consists of a sprocket-wheel B of the kind which is adapted to engage with an ordinary chain. This sprocket-wheel is loose upon its shaft and is engaged for rotation by means of a clutch Biwhich is mounted upon the sameshaft and is movable into or out of engagement by means of the hand-lever B The chain 0 is first passed around the idlers or guidingwheels I,which are mounted below the sprocket-wheel B and upon each side thereof, the lower side of these wheels being close to the ground, so that the pull upon the chain is from a low point upon the hauling device, and the chain is therefore at all times held low enough to be engaged by the pins 0 (shown in Fig. 4) and by which the chain is held in position upon curves and prevented from pulling toward the inner edge of the curve.

I have provided in addition to the abovedescribed mechanism a separate'rope-winding mechanism consisting of a drum B mounted be operated independently of the chain-wind ing mechanism by freeing the clutch 13 It may then be used for pulling logs into the roadway or for any other purpose desired. A cable wound upon the drum B may be led through guide-pulleys in any direction and used for any purpose desired. While engaged in this work it is of course understood that the device is anchored by attachment in any suitable or convenient manner to fixed objects, such as stumps or trees.

The rut-cutter consists of the two bars D, which are pivoted at d to the frame A. These bars are crossed and fastened together in the shape of the letter X, the pivot being at the point of crossing. The lower outer edges of these bars are provided with shoes D, consisting of steel plates which project a slight distance below the ends of the bars D. These shoes are in line with the runners at and are placed between the same. The upper ends of the bars D engage uprights or stops D fixed to the frame A and limiting the amount of swing of the bars. This amount of swing is sufficient to permit one of the shoes D to drop slightly below the level of the runners,

so as to cut a rut a little deeper than it was when the runner ran over it. By this means a rut may be formed of any depth desired, the

result being that the sleds, which are clamped to the log-hauling device and which follow thereafter, will be guided and held in these ruts. In consequence of this all the sleds will follow in the same track, and this track may be iced, so that the friction of hauling a load will be small.

I have provided means for icing the track, consisting of tanks E, mounted upon the frame A and each provided with a-di'schar'ge- F or the connecting-bar F, or, when desired, by using both. A numberof sleds may thus be connected behind the frame A.

The hauling capacity of the device is limited only by the power of the engines mounted thereon and of the chain 0.

The use of a steam-operated device of this character will save in the cost of logging in In the first place the supplies many ways. necessary for the device, which will have to be hauled into the camps, will consist only of oil and such other little supplies as are n'ec- 3 esary in the operation of the ordinary steam- 1 engine. The fuel for operating the engine may be obtained in the woods and with practically no cost. When using horses or oxen for this purpose, feed has to be purchased and hauled into the camps, which'is an item At the Sametime of considerable expense. the use of horses or oxen necessitates drivers to attend to them, the expense of which will amount to as much as the expense of the men who operate the engine. Moreover, when the engine is not in use this expense stops, while the teams eat whether they are at work or not.

To one end of the framework of my device I attach a snow-plow H, whichis of the usual V shape. If desired, a snow-plow may be attached to each end of the device.

A steering device may be applied to the sled, if desired; but this is not considered nec essary, as the sled cannot well do otherwise than follow the chain, which is itself held in the roadway, as described.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A'log-hauling device, comprisinga frame mounted upon sled-runners and provided with a locomotive apparatus, rut cutters mounted upon said frame, consisting of two connected crossed bars pivoted at their point of crossing and having plows on their lower ends, and stops upon the frame adapted to engage the upper ends of said bars to permit one of the plows to drop below the sled-run-.

ners, substantiallyas described.

2. Al'og-haulin'g device, comprising a frame mounted upon sled-runners and provided with a locomotive apparatus, rutcutters mounted upon said frame consisting of two connected crossed bars pivoted at their crossing and having plows on their lower ends, stops upon the frame adapted to engage the upper ends of said bars to permit one of the plows to drop below the sled-runners, and water-tanks arranged to discharge in the ruts, substantially as described.

3. A log-hauling device, comprising a frame mounted on sled-runners, a chain-winding mechanism mounted thereon, a chain extending along the road and fastened at each end,

said chain being engaged by the chain-winding mechanism, a rut-cutter consisting of piv- 'oted bars having a shoe or plow upon their lower ends adapted to drop below and in line with the runners, a limiting-stop therefor, and a'snow-plow attached to the end of the frame, substantially as described.

THOMAS J. ST. LOUIS. Witnesses:

- JAMES W. OSBORNE,

R. 0. POPE. 

